Modi came with a bang as PM mainly because the people of India had become terribly disgusted with the UPA blunders, particularly with a very decently helpless puppet Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. Sonia ruled the country with the whole Congress gang struggling to keep her pleased for they knew they did not have the star power to pull votes. Narendra Modi, who was making waves as Gujarat CM and considered a superstar vote puller with his populist oratory, was projected as king of India, again because the BJP too didn’t have a good enough star to move the Indian hearts. History was created when Modi proved to be a greater hero than imagined. The BJP grabbed more seats than expected. Modi entered the Parliament after whacking a reverential kiss on the
first concrete step at the entrance of the majestic structure. The humanity had then chimed in chorus, "Here comes a true priest to the temple of democracy!" Modi sent enough signals that he was no fool and would make the bureaucracy slug like mad to ensure public joy, relief and goods of the best kind by way of economic development that generates quality employment, build warmest relationship with the neighbours and forge magnificent bondage with the international community with a uniquely genial foreign policy in place.
Thus began his globetrotting and the trips reached such an extent and pace that experts have begun commenting that he is now the craziest tourist on world tour to project self as an incomparable world figure. Modi is still popular but not so much as at the beginning. He is criticised for resorting to strong personal likes and dislikes. He has ignored great performers like Arun Shourie, who should have been given critical roles for his great learning and experience as an editor, author and Minister. Shourie does not figure anywhere in the Modi structure.
Incidentally, the UPA had not failed to recognise Jairam Ramesh, a superbly clean genius. Further, Modi's popularity has started declining probably because he says he is a Chaiwallah but sports designer's apparel which the people of India have not taken well. Further, the terrible land acquisition Bill and the subsequent Ordinance have all been seen as grave blunders. Modi has a right to trust Amit Shah and Adani, but he is duty-bound to pick geniuses like Shourie to show him the smooth path.
Modi expresses great desire to boost female population, but corresponding moves are not being taken up. Saving the girl child cannot happen unless there is such incentive as can tempt even the most rigidly austere saint. Any couple being blessed with a baby girl has to get a special card to avail subsidised travel by train, plane and all road transport facilities. The parents need to get priority employment; promotions, Government houses or land; the below-poverty-line parents be given free dress, study materials, nutrition and healthcare support. And above all, wedding expenses of one lakh rupees should be granted at the present market price index. Then only the slogan 'Beti bachao, Beti padhao' may bear some desired result; or else never will Punjab, Haryana or other small pockets of India like Nayagarh in Odisha would have female population rising. Very interestingly, the coastal Kendrapada district of Odisha boasts of a fantastic female-heavy status which the researchers must study with care.
*The NDA Government has degraded itself by placing Sathasivam as Governor of Kerala. As per the spirit implied in the Constitution of India, a former chief of the Supreme Court should not accept any office of profit doled out by the executive. Modi better put his foot down even now as the chief executive officer of this great country. Sathasivam too should scream 'No' to the proposal of heading the Human Rights Commission.
*In Odessa, big disturbing events are happening too, so disconcerting as to kill sleep and appetite, though only of thinking people. An explosive exposure about the daily Samaja has gone viral in the social media. Successive editors both dead and living have been blamed for fraud and forgery. The paper’s owning society too has not been spared. Odias are waiting with bated breath to see the mystery unfolding to reveal the inner truth soon enough.
The other sad news is about a great social worker who is just dead unsung and barely recognised for the great work of lifelong sacrifice to keep nature and poor tribals flourishing. Joginath Sahu never showed off his rare achievements like the city-based five-star NGO pretenders masquerading as saviours of mankind. He worked silently and died without noise too. Not surprisingly, most of the property-flaunting NGO pretenders would now be exhausting all the crocodile tears in stock before the media to prove in vain they are heartbroken without Joginath Sahu in sight.
A laughable report that hurts the sentiment of the global Hindu community is that the ‘Dream-guided’ Daru of Goddess Subhadra has turned out to be hollow bottom upward. There is no amendment possible for this most horrific blunder by the Banajaga Yatris who are enjoying royal treatment wherever they keep setting foot. As per the strict tradition, the Banajaga Yatra is conducted in absolute secrecy. 'Bana' means forest and the temple servitors are expected to roam the forests to identify Darus, away from public glare and scrutiny. But the Yatris have chosen all Darus quite in the thick of public dwelling and amid all mundane activities. A leading TV channel reporter sought to know from a Daitapati if the much-hyped Balabhadra Daru had stood in the middle of an auto rickshaw stand with several nails studded into its trunk. The servitor was red with frightened confusion. He told he knew nothing about the nails. Another servitor in another TV show was cornered so badly that he had to confess that the 'dream thing' is only a ploy to escape the wrath of devotees.
The Gajapati's views, however, are perfectly pragmatic. He says Daru, once selected, has to become Deities. There should not be any controversy raised after so much of divinely granted time, money and energy. But the manner in which the Banajaga Yatris are conducting themselves may come under public scrutiny. There has been media report of the servitors resorting to mean tricks to grab money from the superstitious devotees all along the way. The temple administration too allowed a temporary Hundi to be placed for collecting loot.
*Much seems to have happened wrongly with regard to the supremely-hyped Nabakalebar festival in Puri, a once cool and delightful place now suffering under 'destruction workers' who have defaced the temple town-on-sea irreparably. The city is torn down so badly that there is no chance of its regaining the lost glory before the big festival commences despite best efforts by only three dedicated officials doing commendable work to put things in order by monitoring all development activities in minutest details and picking up the known antisocial elements to toss into jail -- the District Magistrate, the Superintendent of Police and a high-energy, honest Sub-Collector who have landed in Puri as saviours on record. But for sure, after the festival, they will be the scapegoats if things went wrong. And in case everything goes well, the Nabakalebar committee along with the temple administration would grab the praise.
Hopefully, lord Jagannath is watching everything to decide who is to be rewarded and who punished.
(The writer is a core member of Transparency International, Odisha)